Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated by Yiming Yang
Annals of Zhou Book 1 Scroll 1 (continued)
The 11th Year of King An (391 B.C.)
The State of Qin launched an invasion against the State of Han, successfully capturing and annexing six towns from the city Yiyang.
Tian Chang gave birth to Viscount Xiang, Tian Pan. Tian Pan, in turn, gave birth to Tian Bai, who gave birth to Tian He. TIan He was called the Great Grandpa Qi. It was Tian He who took over the state of Qi and decided to relocate Duke Kang, the lord of the State of Qi to an island in the sea, establishing a city as his designated domain to safeguard the ancestral heritage of Great Grandpa Jiang.
The 12th Year of King An (390 B.C.)
The city of Wucheng became the battleground where the forces of the State of Qin and the State of Wei clashed in a fierce battle.
In another military engagement, the State of Qi launched an attack on the State of Wei, managing to capture the city of Xiangling and gain control over it.
Meanwhile, the State of Lu achieved a significant victory over the army of the State of Qi in a decisive battle at the city of Pinglu.
The 13th Year of King An (389 B.C.)
The State of Qin launched an invasion against the State of Jin.
During this time, Tian He, the prime minister of the State of Qi, met with Marquis Wei Wen and representatives from both the States of Chu and Wey at Zhuoze. Tian He sought the lordship of Qi from King An of Zhou, while Marquis Wei Wen supported and advocated for Tian He‘s cause before the king. Ultimately, King An granted his approval and officially bestowed the lordship upon Tian He.
The 15th Year of King An (387 B.C.)
The State of Qin launched an invasion against the State of Shu, successfully capturing the city of Nanzheng.
In the midst of these events, Marquis Wei Wen passed away, and his eldest son, Crown Prince Ji, ascended to the position of Marquis Wei Wu.
Marquis Wei Wu embarked on a journey down the Xihe (West River) on a ship. As he observed the surrounding landscape, he expressed his admiration to Wu Qi, the commandant of Xihe prefecture. Marquis Wei Wu remarked on the beauty and strength of the mountains and rivers, considering them valuable assets for the State of Wei. However, Wu Qi offered a different perspective: “The security and stability of a state truly lie in the virtues of its ruler, rather than the natural barriers that surround it. Consider the Sanmiao tribe of the past, situated between Dongting Lake and Pengli Lake. Despite the physical protection offered by these natural features, they were ultimately vanquished by Yu the Great, when they failed to uphold virtuous governance.”
“Another case worth mentioning is Jie, a ruler of the Xia dynasty, who resided in an area encompassed by the Ji River, Mount Taihua, the pass of Yique in the south, and the Yangchang slope in the north. However, King Tang of the Shang dynasty exiled Jie due to his tyrannical and inhumane rule.”
“Similarly, King Zhou of the Shang dynasty ruled within a territory surrounded by imposing barriers: Mengmen mountain on the left, Taihang mountain on the right, Mount Heng to the north, and a great river to the south. Nevertheless, King Wu of the Zhou dynasty successfully overthrew him, as King Zhou‘s immoral and unethical rule undermined his position of power.”
“From these examples, we can derive an important lesson: the rule of benevolence and moral virtue is paramount for the security and prosperity of a state. Regardless of the presence of natural barriers, if a ruler lacks morality and neglects the welfare of the people, even those within the confines of a ship could turn against him”.
Marquis Wei Wu acknowledged the validity of Wu Qi‘s argument. He concurred, stating, “You make a good point.”
The state of Wei made the decision to appoint Tian Wen as its prime minister, a choice that did not sit well with Wu Qi. Filled with discontent, Wu Qi approached Tian Wen and issued him a challenge: “Shall we compare our accomplishments?”
Tian Wen responded, “Certainly, we can do that.” Wu Qi wasted no time and began, “When it comes to leading three armies into battle, instilling unwavering courage in soldiers, and deterring our enemy states from plotting against us, are you superior to me?” Tian Wen replied, “No, I am not.”
Undeterred, Wu Qi continued, “And what about efficiently governing all officials, showing compassion towards citizens, and ensuring the stability of the country’s food supply and finances? Are you better than me in these aspects?” Tian Wen reluctantly admitted, “No, I am not.”
Wu Qi pressed on, “Furthermore, when it comes to guarding the West River, preventing the State of Qin from advancing eastward, and securing alliances with the State of Han and Zhao, are you better than me?” Once again, Tian Wen‘s response remained the same.
Wu Qi then argued, “If you are not superior to me in any of these three aspects, why are you ranked above me?” Tian Wen countered, “The State is currently governed by a young lord, and its position is precarious. The officials have yet to fully pledge their allegiance to the lord, and the people are still uncertain about their trust in him. Considering the current circumstances, who is better suited to handle this situation: you or me?”
After a long pause, Wu Qi finally conceded, “You are better equipped to handle the challenges at hand.”
Over time, the prime minister Tian Wen passed away, leaving a vacancy in the position. The new prime minister of Wei, named Gongshu, who had married a daughter of Marquis Wei Wu, saw Wu Qi as a potential threat. One of Gongshu‘s servants devised a scheme: “Getting rid of Wu Qi is easy. He is a proud and upright individual. Here’s what you can do: Go to the lord and express your concerns, saying, ‘Wu Qi is an exceptional talent, but I fear that our state may be too small to accommodate his ambitions in the long run. Why not offer your daughter’s hand in marriage to him? If he refuses, it will be a clear indication that he has no intention of staying.’” The servant continued, “Then, invite Wu Qi to your home and have your wife, who is a princess, insult and belittle you in front of him. If Wu Qi witnesses her disdainful behavior, he will reject the marriage proposal, and your plot will succeed.” Gongshu approved the plan and put it into motion. As anticipated, Wu Qi declined the marriage proposal, causing Marquis Wei Wu to become suspicious and lose trust in him. Wu Qi‘s favor rapidly declined, and fearing for his life, he made the decision to flee to the Kingdom of Chu.
Upon his arrival in the Kingdom of Chu, Wu Qi‘s reputation had already preceded him, catching the attention of King Dao. Impressed by his capabilities, King Dao appointed Wu Qi as the prime minister. Wu Qi wasted no time in implementing his reforms, promulgating laws and regulations to streamline the government. He eliminated unnecessary bureaucratic positions, reduced public-supported entitlements for distant royal relatives, and allocated the savings as pensions for soldiers. His primary focus was on strengthening the armed forces and countering the influence of the two factions of strategic alliances. Under Wu Qi‘s leadership, the Kingdom of Chu successfully suppressed insurgencies in the “Yue” territories, repelled threats from the three “Jin” vassal states, and launched an offensive against the State of Qin to the West. The strength and prowess of Chu left neighboring states in awe.
However, despite his remarkable achievements, Wu Qi faced resentment from many royals and nobles within the Kingdom of Chu who were displeased with his reforms and the consolidation of his power.
Duke Hui of Qin passed away, and his son succeeded him as Duke Chu.
The State of Zhao also experienced a change in leadership as Marquis Wu died. The people of Zhao installed Zhao Zhang, the eldest son of Marquis Lie, as the new ruler, bestowing him with the title of Marquis Jing.
In the State of Han, Marquis Lie passed away, and his son ascended to the throne as Marquis Wen.
The 16th Year of King An (386 B.C.)
Tian He, an official of the State of Qi, has been granted the title of Duke, marking his formal promotion to royalty.
Prince Chao of Zhao rebelled and sought refuge in the State of Wei. In an attempt to regain power, he led a covert attack by the Wei forces against Handan. However, the attack was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its objectives.
The 17th Year of King An (385 B.C.)
In a shocking turn of events, the chancellor of the State of Qin named Gai orchestrated a reception at Hexi and installed Duke Xian as the new ruler, while also carrying out a brutal act of violence. Gai killed Duke Chu of Qin, as well as his mother, and disposed of their bodies near a deep river.
The State of Qi launched an attack on the State of Lu.
The State of Han launched offensives against both the State of Zheng and the State of Song. They successfully seized the city of Yangcheng from Zheng and captured Duke Dao of Song. The people of the Song have established Duke Xiu, Zi Tian, as their ruler.
Duke Tai of Qi, also known as Tian He, passed away. His son, Tian Wu, succeeded him as the new ruler, taking on the title of Duke Huan of Qi.
The 19th Year of King An (383 B.C.)
The state of Wei defeated the army of Zhao at a place named Tutai.
The 20th Year of King An (382 B.C.)
There was a solar eclipse, which became annular soon.
The 21st Year of King An (381 B.C.)
Following the death of King Dao of Chu, a chaotic situation unfolded in the kingdom. The royals and officers revolted, targeting Wu Qi, who sought refuge in the palace. In a desperate act of seeking revenge, Wu Qi laid on top of King Dao‘s lifeless body. Those who shot at Wu Qi with arrows also defiled the deceased king’s body.
After the funeral ceremonies, King Su, Xiong Zang, was installed as the new ruler of Chu. Determined to quell the rebellion and restore order, King Su issued a harsh decree. He ordered his prime minister to execute all the rebels and their families who tarnished the corpse of the former king, resulting in the eradication of over 70 families in total.
Reflection by Rio Grande 